Sonoro Quartet

Cork violist Séamus Hickey returns for a second tour with his outstanding Belgium-based Sonoro Quartet and they open with Beethoven’s third Rasoumovsky quartet, its virtuosic outer movements contrasted with an atmospheric funeral march and a quaintly old-fashioned minuet. Sean Doherty’s musical roots lie in the Donegal fiddle tradition and his quartet Devil’s Dream offers an exciting and authentic fusion of trad and classical. Shostakovich’s dark and powerful second quartet was written in 1944, its mood and dramatic vision clearly shaped by the ongoing tragedy of the second world war. The extraordinary last movement is devastating in its range and depth of expression.

Founded in 2019, the Sonoro Quartet has already established itself as one of the leading young string quartets of its generation. They perform over 40 concerts annually in countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, and Ireland, making them one of the most active string quartets in Belgium. Their repertoire encompasses classical masterpieces as well as works by contemporary composers. They have graced renowned venues including Bijloke in Ghent, Bozar in Brussels, Tivoli Vredenburg in Utrecht, National Concert Hall in Dublin, the Liszt Academy and Bartók Memorial House in Budapest, and Desingel in Antwerp. The quartet has also been invited to perform at festivals such as Festival Midis-Minimes, The Young Generation Bozar, B-Classic, Storioni Festival, West Cork Chamber Music Festival, and RotterdamChamber Music Society, among others.

In March 2022, the Sonoro Quartet was chosen as ECHO Rising Stars for the 2023-2024 season, embarking on a concert tour that includes 17 performances in leading European halls.